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Summary of Question 2
This proposed law would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties, to be enforced by issuing citations, and would exclude information regarding this civil offense from the state's criminal record information system. Offenders age 18 or older would be subject to forfeiture of the marijuana plus a civil penalty of $100. Offenders under the age of 18 would be subject to the same forfeiture and, if they complete a drug awareness program within one year of the offense, the same $100 penalty. Offenders under 18 and their parents or legal guardian would be notified of the offense and the option for the offender to complete a drug awareness program developed by the state Department of Youth Services. Such programs would include ten hours of community service and at least four hours of instruction or group discussion concerning the use and abuse of marijuana and other drugs and emphasizing early detection and prevention of substance abuse. The penalty for offenders under 18 who fail to complete such a program within one year could be increased to as much as $1,000, unless the offender showed an inability to pay, an inability to participate in such a program, or the unavailability of such a program. Such an offender's parents could also be held liable for the increased penalty. Failure by an offender under 17 to complete such a program could also be a basis for a delinquency proceeding. The proposed law would define possession of one ounce or less of marijuana as including possession of one ounce or less of tetrahydrocannibinol ("THC"), or having metabolized products of marijuana or THC in one's body. Under the proposed law, possessing an ounce or less of marijuana could not be grounds for state or local government entities imposing any other penalty, sanction, or disqualification, such as denying student financial aid, public housing, public financial assistance including unemployment benefits, the right to operate a motor vehicle, or the opportunity to serve as a foster or adoptive parent. The proposed law would allow local ordinances or bylaws that prohibit the public use of marijuana, and would not affect existing laws, practices, or policies concerning operating a motor vehicle or taking other actions while under the influence of marijuana, unlawful possession of prescription forms of marijuana, or selling, manufacturing, or trafficking in marijuana. The money received from the new civil penalties would go to the city or town where the offense occurred.

2008 - Bristol County - Question 2Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 6, 2008?

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Bristol County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
140,934
93,263
11,715 245,912
Acushnet More »
 
2,972
2,395
226
5,593
Attleboro More »
 
11,729
6,761
595
19,085
Berkley
 
1,970
1,138
167
3,275
Dartmouth More »
 
9,682
6,628
500
16,810
Dighton
 
2,065
1,457
76
3,598
Easton More »
 
7,326
4,496
238
12,060
Fairhaven More »
 
4,970
3,265
273
8,508
Fall River More »
 
16,733
12,145
2,950
31,828
Freetown More »
 
2,930
1,799
109
4,838
Mansfield More »
 
7,125
4,103
454
11,682
New Bedford More »
 
18,935
12,934
2,458
34,327
N. Attleborough More »
 
8,883
5,008
392
14,283
Norton More »
 
5,691
3,070
202
8,963
Raynham More »
 
3,988
2,835
253
7,076
Rehoboth More »
 
3,779
2,291
230
6,300
Seekonk More »
 
4,222
2,816
380
7,418
Somerset More »
 
5,514
4,226
563
10,303
Swansea More »
 
4,856
3,391
316
8,563
Taunton More »
 
12,485
9,251
996
22,732
Westport More »
 
5,079
3,254
337
8,670
County Totals
140,934
93,263
11,715 245,912